Explosive Detection
widest range of explosive compounds, better resolution than IMS allowing it to
“…laptops, medical this increases the false alarm levels of screen for, essentially, an unlimited
commonly used IMS (ion mobility number of compounds simultaneously,
devices and digital spectrometry) ETD to unacceptable with high sensitivity and low false
levels for operational use. Therefore, in positive rates. The trade off is cost and
cameras often have practice, a limited library of explosives is size, although recently introduced
generally screened for. systems are solving these issues.”
complex internal “The list of terrorist threat
compounds continues to grow, creating Liquid Detection
mechanisms which are a misalignment of the screening The main problem with liquid
technology to the full range of detection is collecting the sample,
difficult to open, materials of interest to aviation and its transfer to an ETD. However,
security authorities. “The biggest several companies are meeting this
requiring more detection challenges are TATP and the challenge, and new technologies in
precursor material hydrogen peroxide. the field are emerging.
sophisticated inspection These can be detected by the For example, Traceguard have
application of high-level chemical developed the CompactSafe – a
mechanisms than those analysis methods, like MS (mass machine that automatically extracts
spectrometry) and to a lesser extent by traces of explosives from compact
used to screen standard IMS. Currently almost all systems items. Items such as laptops, medical
employed are IMS units. devices and digital cameras often have
carry-on items…” “However, the challenge is in sample complex internal mechanisms which are
collection and delivery to the ETD. The difficult to open, requiring more
big problem for IMS is that it is not sophisticated inspection mechanisms
explosives, which are particularly suited capable of detecting many compounds than those used to screen standard
to their technology and sample simultaneously because of its poor carry-on items. CompactSafe enables
collection method. Unfortunately, if resolving power, which leads to a high complete extraction and sampling of
detection settings are employed for the false positive rate. MS has 10-100x substances from both the interior and
Aviationsecurityinternational December 2007 www.asi-mag.com 19
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